Page:Ben-Hur a tale of the Christ.djvu/505

Rh I have done unto you. The world hath long known the word charity without understanding it. Again I say peace and good cheer to thee and thine.&quot;

He went on, and they went slowly to the rock he had pointed out to them, high as their heads, and scarcely thirty yards from the road on the right. Standing in front of it, the mother satisfied herself they could be seen and heard plainly by passers-by whose notice they desired to attract. There they cast themselves under the tree in its shade, and drank of the gourd, and rested refreshed. Ere long Tirzah slept, and fearing to disturb her, the others held their peace.

the third hour the road in front of the resting-place of the lepers became gradually more and more frequented by people going in the direction of Bethphage and Bethany; now, however, about the commencement of the fourth hour, a great crowd appeared over the crest of Olivet, and as it defiled down the road thousands in number, the two watchers noticed with wonder that every one in it carried a palm-branch freshly cut. As they sat absorbed by the novelty, the noise of another multitude approaching from the east drew their eyes that way. Then the mother awoke Tirzah.

&quot;What is the meaning of it all?&quot; the latter asked.

&quot;He is coming,&quot; answered the mother. &quot;These we see are from the city going to meet him; those we hear in the east are his friends bearing him company; and it will not be strange if the processions meet here before us.&quot;

&quot;I fear, if they do, we cannot be heard.&quot;

The same thought was in the elder's mind.

&quot;Amrah,&quot; she asked, &quot;when Judah spoke of the healing of the ten, in what words did he say they called to the Nazarene?&quot;

&quot;Either they said, Lord, have mercy upon us, or Master, have mercy.&quot;

&quot;Only that?&quot;